I am planning to build a walk-in closet in my basement, to be used for
storage of various items. My basement is currently unfinished, though I
had painted the walls with drylock to try and reduce moisture, which is
an ongoing struggle. I would like the closet to be as close to
"moisture-proof" as possible. I was considering using 2x4's for
framing, and plywood for wallboard (instead of sheetrock). As a vapor
barrier, I'm considering lining the entire closet with 6-mil plastic,
sandwiched between the plywood and the 2x4's. Has anyone tried using
6-mil plastic to prevent moisture from entering a closet? any feedback
is appreciated.

If you have drylock on the walls it is already a vapor barrier. Do not
get 2 vapor barriers in a wall, you could trap moisture in the wall and
cause it to rot. Otherwise the 6-mil plastic should work.


Stretch

The closet is in the basement so it will be the basements humidty or
higher as it is on an outside wall without air circulation. If you want
it lower run a dehumidifier.

1 coat, even 7 coats of drylock will not fully stop water under
pressure, therefore it is not a 100% moisture barrier. Yes Ive used 7
coats many times in leakers, and some moisture still pushes through.
Dyrlock is cement -rubber cement is not a moisture barrier

wrote:
I am planning to build a walk-in closet in my basement, to be used for
storage of various items. My basement is currently unfinished, though
I had painted the walls with drylock to try and reduce moisture,
which is an ongoing struggle. I would like the closet to be as close
to "moisture-proof" as possible. I was considering using 2x4's for
framing, and plywood for wallboard (instead of sheetrock). As a vapor
barrier, I'm considering lining the entire closet with 6-mil plastic,
sandwiched between the plywood and the 2x4's. Has anyone tried using
6-mil plastic to prevent moisture from entering a closet? any feedback
is appreciated.

You will never stop moisture from the inside. If you have a moisture
problem, you have to stop it from the outside. First you have to keep
excess moisture away from your home. That means the ground all the way
around your home must slope away from your home at least 10 feet and I
suggest 20. If that does not do it, then it starts getting expensive;
digging out around your home to provide proper sealing of the exterior walls
and drainage at the bottom of the wall.

As for the closet, if you really want it in the basement, I suggest
making it free standing (not sharing a wall with an outside basement wall)
and providing forced ventilation bringing air in from the living area of
your home.


--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
wrote:
I am planning to build a walk-in closet in my basement, to be used for
storage of various items. My basement is currently unfinished, though
I had painted the walls with drylock to try and reduce moisture,
which is an ongoing struggle. I would like the closet to be as close
to "moisture-proof" as possible. I was considering using 2x4's for
framing, and plywood for wallboard (instead of sheetrock). As a vapor
barrier, I'm considering lining the entire closet with 6-mil plastic,
sandwiched between the plywood and the 2x4's. Has anyone tried using
6-mil plastic to prevent moisture from entering a closet? any feedback
is appreciated.

The OP mentions that the basement is currently unfinished.
So;
1) Is it moisture from outside leaking in?
Or;
2) Maybe it is condensation of warm (and therefore slightly humid) house air
on the cool walls and surfaces of the basement?
If #2 it is an entirely different problem to 'waterproofing basement walls'
to stop external water from seeping in!